Maura didn't mind Lydia. She was simple, but she wasn't uncomplicated. She had simply been in a socioeconomic range in which domestic violence had altered her growing brain and survival mode had kicked in. She had limited ambitions because the world was limited to her. She made herself small because drawing attention to herself had usually been punished. She was uneducated because learning how to survive and earning money had been more important than critical thinking or history. Maura understood why Lydia had found Frank attractive - an older man that looked financially stable. So what if his kids were older than her, it was the best offer she'd had. And Tommy was sweet but unreliable in many ways. With all she knew of men, they were both significant improvements to her dating profile.
She had potential. And she was sweet in a way Jane wasn't. Maura had been so generous to Jane and her family, but she never let them know she paid Tommy's alimony and child support, or Lydia's health insurance. She never let them know that she paid for TJ's school lunches, or Lydia's degree. That was her nephew, even if he wasn't related to her biologically, and she wanted his future to be as bright as possible. She couldn't make up for the systemic failures in Lydia's upbringing, but she could make sure they weren't passed down.
She'd done the same for Tasha, too. Families were what you made of them, and Maura had been adopted more than once. She had the resources and ability to help.
She almost envied how content Lydia was. She brought TJ over more, once Tommy left Boston and she didn't have to run into him at Maura's. Lydia had always wanted a place at the Rizzolis table and she hadn't exactly gotten it, but Maura offered her one at the Isles table instead, which was nearly the same thing. Maura knew what it was like to want a family like the Rizzolis. Angela never treated Lydia the way she did Maura or Jane, but she adored TJ. And Jane put up with her, rolling her eyes but knowing it was the price she paid to see her nephew.
"I think you got the best one," Lydia said quietly one night. TJ was sleeping over in the guest house with Angela, and Jane had gone off in a huff. Lydia had joined Maura for dinner, reporting on her social work degree with a measure of pride. Maura always felt Lydia felt indebted to her, and while she didn't like that, she did like the way Lydia took it as a serious responsibility. That her success would be reward enough. And she was a good cook, and she didn't turn her nose up at vegetables like Jane did. "The best Rizzoli, I mean."
"Angela? She's a wonderful houseguest."
Lydia looked at her oddly, pushing her dinner around on her plate.
"I meant Jane. You two get along so well, you never really fight - not like Tommy and I did - and she treats you..." Lydia trailed off, looking down at the remains of her meal. "If you're sure TJ can stay, I can head home. I have those exams tomorrow. Thank Angela for watching him for me, please."
"Lydia, are you under the impression that Jane and I..." Maura didn't finish it. Couldn't finish it. "We aren't."
Lydia looked at her shrewdly. "Maybe you should be." She took her plate to the sink and rinsed it; she was always careful with Maura's things, always grateful to be included. "I should go study."
Lydia passed her exams - she was compassionate and was actually interested in people, which made Maura's heart hurt for what she would encounter on the job. She referred her to a practice she knew was in need of someone, and she threw a celebration dinner when she got the role. Jane came, and Frankie and Nina. Jane spent most of her time with TJ, but she spent less of her time treating Lydia like a bimbo these days. Yes, Lydia had made poor decisions, but her options had been limited, and she hadn't been the instigator in either case. Maura didn't know if Lydia had even known how to say no to a man back then. But Maura knew part of it was that Maura and Lydia got on well without her, and Jane was always jealous of anyone else who took Maura's time. If she wanted to stay in Maura's life, she had to accept Lydia's place in it.
Maura watched Jane make conversation with Lydia. Of the three Rizzoli siblings, Jane had been the only one that hadn't tried to kiss her. But of the three of them - objectively - she was the most stable financially, she was professionally stable as well, intelligent and funny. Frankie was most of those things, as well as sweet where Jane was harsh, and Tommy was simply fun. But Lydia had been right. She'd had the pick of them, and she'd chosen Jane. Or rather, Jane had chosen her and dragged her family along for the ride.
Jane looked up and smiled at Maura - Jane complained about the sacrifices she made for Maura, but she also thanked Maura for the concessions she made for her family. Like dinner tonight; too many people for the guest house or Jane's condo, so Maura had hosted, but Jane had been the one to ask her to, her brow furrowed as though she was asking too much.
Maura would give Jane anything she wanted, anything she asked for, but she liked that Jane didn't take advantage of her wealth. That Jane considered this a favour. That Jane made a genuine effort the moment she saw that Jane having a relationship with Lydia was important to her. Jane complained, but she always came through. And while Jane and Lydia were very different people with very different interests and hobbies, so too were Jane and Maura. Her grudge over Lydia sleeping with her father and her brother and hurting her mother in the process hadn't been forgotten, but it had been forgiven, and Jane was kinder now that she knew Lydia better. She'd had such a hard life; Jane no longer wanted to make it harder. Maura had made it clear that Jane had been fortunate with her upbringing in ways that Lydia hadn't, and Jane had been abashed, finally putting herself in Lydia's place, the bottom rungs of society, no access to housing, food, jobs or education, let alone doctors.
Jane looked over and caught Maura's smile, coming over to refresh her drink.
"What are you smiling at?" Jane asked, ever the detective.
"I like it when you get along."
"Well, she's one of us now, isn't she?" Jane asked. Maura must have looked insecure, because Jane added, "I like her well enough now. But I lo- I love you."
Maura glowed. Jane had said she was one of them. She'd included Maura in the broad sweep of her arm that indicated her family. And she'd said - oh goodness, she'd said...
"Hey, honey, don't cry," Jane said, sounding alarmed.
"I've waited so long to hear that," Maura admitted, Jane's arms wrapping around her where she sat on the stool at the counter. Jane hushed her, kissing the top of her head and pulling her impossibly closer, all rib and hip and soft tissue and a heartbeat Maura knew almost as well as her own.
"I kept you waiting too long," Jane said ruefully. "I don't - I don't know what we are, how it changes what we are. I just knew it would. And you know I'm a coward."
"I've seen you shoot yourself to kill a man that threatened me. I've seen you kill two more men that threatened me. I've seen you jump off a bridge, and take a beating for a streetkid you didn't even know. You're no coward, Jane."
"I am," Jane said softly, and Maura loved her like this, when she was warm and soft and gentle, with her strong hands rubbing Maura's back and holding her close. "I am, or I'd have told you the first time I realised it. When you called blood at that marathon. Remember?"
Jane had been holding onto it for years. Maura had said it once, but Jane had looked so frightened that she'd never said it again.
"I remember. And I've known. It's just nice to hear it." Jane's hands smoothed over Maura's shoulder blades, then caught in Maura's hair as Jane pulled away, cupping her face. There was silence in the house; unusual since it was full of Rizzolis. Maura let her hands drop down to where Jane's belt sat over her hips, thumbs catching on the leather. She let Jane's thumbs clear her cheeks of tears, and then she tilted her face up in consent when Jane leaned in.
Jane kissed her. She'd been drinking wine instead of beer, and her mouth tasted sharp but her lips were soft and so were her hands. Maura kissed her back, heedless of the cheering that had broken out around them. Someone must have scored a goal in the baseball game they'd put on for Frankie and Jane. Jane pulled away slowly, eyes closed as though she was savouring an especially delicious treat. When she opened them, Maura couldn't look away. Those dark, expressive eyes were hyperfocused on her, and she felt herself melt under that gaze.
"You were right," Maura told Lydia, handing TJ back into his mother's arms so she could load him in the car seat. Lydia gave her a knowing smile and a kiss on the cheek goodnight, ignoring the guard-dog growl it provoked from Jane. She closed the door once all the guests had left and turned to Jane.
"What was she right about?" Jane asked, always investigating.
"She told me I got the best Rizzoli," Maura said, looking up at Jane. "I always knew you were the best, I just didn't know I had you."
"You have. I mean, you do. Have me, that is. If you wanted to. You could have me."
"I think I'd rather take you," Maura murmured into Jane's ear, watching the goosebumps raise on her arms with a wicked smile before leading Jane to the stairs. "To my bedroom, that is. And then in the Biblical sense, if you understand my meaning. If you're okay with that."
"I understand, and I'm on board," Jane affirmed, her hand on Maura's lower back as they climbed the stairs.
Lydia was both surprised and pleased when she saw the bouquet of flowers on her desk in the morning. Maura had done so much for her, it was about time she returned the favour.